Now in its eighth year, the Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Festival will highlight some of the Peninsula’s best offerings.

The festival, which runs October 10 through October 20, features events organized through the chamber and many others planned by area businesses and organizations that have embraced the “Fall Festival” spirit.

Festivities kick off quietly with a window decoration contest that begins Thursday, October 10, and continues to the final day of the festival on Sunday, October 20.

The centerpiece of the festival—A Taste of the Peninsula— will be held on Sunday, October 13, at the Mainescape Garden Shop. There, more than 30 vendors will be in attendance ranging from locally produced beer to locally cultivated oysters and everything in between. Also, there will be pie bake offs and music from George Stevens Academy Jazz Combo “7-up” and Isle of Jazz.

In addition to the Taste of the Peninsula there are numerous other ways to experience the tastes and smells of the area as well as learn about some of the area’s best talent. Major events begin on Friday, October 11, at 4 p.m. with an open house at the Bagaduce Music Lending library. Performances by the 2013 winners of the annual Young Composers Contest will take place.

Also on the docket throughout the festival is a talk by Leslie Clapp and Blaise deSibour on their seven-week trek through Hawaii, a chocolate making workshop with Kate Shaffer of Black Dinah Chocolatiers, a tour of peninsula pottery studios, and dinner theater with New Surry Theatre. There also are numerous special breakfasts and dinners at locations throughout the peninsula.

• New Surry Theatre @ 66 Steak & Seafood Dinner served 5 p.m.-7 p.m. A 7 p.m. performance of scenes from two different plays followed by a Q&A with actors and director Bill Raiten. A donation to the NST Performing Arts School Scholarship Fund includes performance and a half-price beverage. Reservations: 374-1055.